Festivals of Srilanka would leave most enchanting experiences on the minds of its travelers as the island enjoys the bright and colorful tradition festivals celebrated with full fun and enthusiasm. Mostly festivals in Sri Lanka are religion base and celebrated with same sprit among all sections of the society.
The people of Sri Lanka are so lively that there is festivity mood throughout the year, which is easily depicted in their celebrations, with vivid traditional rituals, ceremonies and a splendid extravagance. The exact dates of most festivals tend to change from year to year as they depend on lunar and solar aspect.
Festivals are a part of Sri Lankan culture. They can be either Religious or National festivals and are observed in grand scale.
Religious Festivals
Sri Lanka being a predominantly Buddhist country Buddhist festivals are more frequent. Full moon day of each month, called Poya day, is a day of religious observance for the Buddhists. On every Poya day there is some form of festival in the village temples. However the major full moon days are Duruthu (January), Vesak (May), Poson (June), Esala (August) and Unduvap (December) observed with greater pomp and pageantry. Important Hindu festivals are Thai Pongal (in January), Vel (in July/August) and Deepavali (in November). Muslims celebrate the Ramadan, Haj and Milad-un-Nabi festivals. Christmas and Easter are celebrated by the Christians in Sri Lanka
Buddhist festivals
Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka are more recurrent as the country is dominated by Buddhist faith. With respect, on full moon day of every month religious ceremony are performed by the followers of Buddhists, the day is called Poya Day.
Muslim festivals
Muslim festivals are also closely associated to religion. The community follows a minority group that is the reason the celebrations are not much in notice. The main Muslim festivals are the Milad-un-Nabi or the birth of the Prophet Mohammed in December, Id-ul-Fitr marking the end of the holy fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the Haj festival when Muslims make their pilgrimages to the holy Muslim shrine at Mecca.
Hindhu Festivals
Thai Pongal :- This is a Hindu harvest festival, held in mid-january, to honour the Sun God.
Maha Shivrathri :- In late february or early March the Hindhu festival of Maha Sivarathri commemorates the marriage of Shiva to Parvati.
Kataragama :- This festival is held at Kataragama, where devotes put themselves through the whole gamut f ritual masochism. Apilgrimage from Jaffna via Batticaloa to Kataragama takes place.
Deepavali :- Also known as the festival of lights, Deepavali festival takes place in late October or early November. Thousand of oil lamps will be lit to celebrate the victory of good over evil and the return of Rama (the legendary character of the Hindu epic Ramayana, believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu) after his period of exile. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth is worshipped on the third day of the festival.
Christian Fesitvals
Easter :- The Christain Good friday holiday usually falls in late March. An Easter passion play is performed on the island of Duwa, off Negombo.
National Festivals
The main National Festival is the celebration of the traditional New Year in April jointly by the two main ethnic groups of Sri Lanka. The celebrations however assume different styles with the Sinhala celebrations being more elaborate.
New Year
Although the conventional New Year is celebrated in January, the Sinhala New Year is marked by the entry of the Sun from the zodiacal sign of Pisces (the last sector) to Aries (the first sector) and is celebrated in April (usually on 13th or 14th of April) when the whole country assumes an aura of festivity. Traditional customs are observed at auspicious times determined by the astrologers. Festivities continue for about a week with New Year festivals in different parts of the country and visiting friends and relations.
Hindu celebration of the New Year is confined to the first day of the year and is over in a matter of hours.
Independence Day
Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of February every year commemorating the granting of independence from British rule take the form of a national festival with State participation. Celebrations are held throughout the Island on this day.
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